CHICAGO — A key stretch of Lincoln Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood has been temporarily closed to traffic as part of an ongoing construction project aimed at improving pedestrian safety, public transit access, and neighborhood infrastructure.
The six-week closure began Tuesday and affects Lincoln Avenue between Leland and Eastwood Avenues. The project timeline is weather-dependent, according to a statement from Ald. Matt Martin’s 47th Ward office.
Intersection Work and Traffic Shift
“This phase of the project will complete the work impacting the Leland and Lincoln intersection,” Martin’s office confirmed.
-
During the closure, Leland Avenue between Western and Lincoln will temporarily become a one-way, westbound street.
-
Pedestrian access to businesses and the CTA Brown Line station remains open throughout construction.
Parking Lot and Brown Line Upgrades
In addition to street closures, crews started work this week on an adjacent parking lot, removing fencing and pavement as part of broader plans to upgrade the Western Avenue Brown Line station and create a new public plaza.
A prior plan to close the 2200 block of West Leland Avenue was delayed due to complications involving water connection logistics, according to Martin’s chief of staff, Josh Mark.
Part of a Larger Neighborhood Vision
The construction is part of a broader effort that includes:
-
Renovating Lincoln Square’s roadways to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists
-
Expanding the Leland Neighborhood Greenway
-
Improving public access and aesthetics around the Western Brown Line station
This initiative traces back to the 2019 Lincoln Square Master Plan, which laid out goals to modernize infrastructure and improve streetscape experiences across the area.
According to the Chicago Transit Authority’s Steve Mascheri, this phase of the project will continue through the rest of 2025.
Community Response and Earlier Closures
A previous closure on the 4700 block of North Lincoln Avenue in spring 2025 — which turned the area into a pedestrian-only zone from April 21 to May 12 — provided city officials with insights on traffic impacts and business effects. Some residents welcomed the car-free streets, while others voiced concerns about business disruptions.
The city is using lessons from that closure to inform future decisions about how temporary and permanent pedestrianization might be implemented in the neighborhood.
How to Stay Updated
Chicagoans can check the Chicago Department of Transportation’s ChiStreetWork interactive map to monitor progress and future road changes:
What do you think about car-free stretches of Lincoln Avenue? Would more pedestrian-only areas benefit your neighborhood? Share your thoughts with us at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
